Spark advance device

ABSTRACT

A disc having a plurality of permanent magnets thereon is rotated in unision with a distributor shaft. A second disc is adjacent a side of the first disc and includes a plurality of electro magnets. The second disc does not rotate with the distributor shaft and means are provided for allowing it to rotate about an axis that is coincidental with the distributor shaft axis. A lever is pivotably attached to a fixed datum and includes two ends. A link extends from the second disc to one end of the lever and is positively connected thereto. A breaker point plate surrounds the distributor shaft but does not rotate therewith. A link is attached to the breaker point plate and is positively connected to the second end of the lever. In normal operation the distributor shaft rotates the first disc and the rotation of this disc results in an induced voltage in the electro magnets of the second disc. As a result thereof a rotational force is applied to the second disc proportional to the speed of rotation of the first disc. The second disc then rotates a distance that is a function of the rate of rotation of the distributor shaft. This causes the lever to rotate about its pivot point rotating the breaker point plate. The breaker point plate is rotated a distance proportional to the amount of rotation of the second disc and hence proportional to the speed of rotation of the distributor shaft. Since the position of the breaker point plate controls the timing it can be seen that a simple mechanical device is provided for controlling the timing in an internal combustion engine proportional to the speed of rotation of the distributor shaft.

United States Patent 1 Rossel [151 3,658,039 [451 Apr. 25, 1972 [s41 SPARK ADVANCE DEVICE Primary Examiner-Laurence M. Goodridge Assistant Examiner-Cort Flint s7 ABSTRACT A disc having a plurality of permanent magnets thereon is shaft and means are provided for allowing it to rotate about an axis that is coincidental with the distributor shaft axis. A lever is pivotably attached to a fixed datum and includes two ends.

A link extends from the second disc to one end of the lever and is positively connected thereto. A breaker point plate surrounds the distributor shaft but does not rotate therewith. A link is attached to the breaker point plate and is positively connected to the second end of the lever. In normal operation the distributor shaft rotates the first disc and the rotation of this disc results in an induced voltage in the electro magnets of the second disc. As a result thereof a rotational force is applied to the second disc proportional to the speed of rotation of the first disc. The second disc then rotates a distance that is a function of the rate of rotation of the distributor shaft. This causes the lever to rotate about its pivot point rotating the breaker point plate. The breaker point plate is rotated a distance proportional to the amount of rotation of the second disc and hence proportional 'to the speed of rotation of the distributor shaft. Since the position of the breaker point plate controls the timing it can be seen that a simple mechanical device is provided for controlling the timing in an internal combustion engine proportional to the speed of rotation of the distributor shaft.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 2 5 1912 SHEET 1 BF 2 Ill 2! i 1-;- WAN! 'Il'l,

FIG. 3

FIG.

INVENTOR JOSEPH ROSSEL BY 14044 ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 4

FIG. 6

INVENTOR JOSEPH ROSSEL /Q/w 044,43, NWOLA (of 1 W ATTORNEYS SPARK ADVANCE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention Spark Advance means for an internal combustion engine.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known in the distributor art that as the speed of an internal combustion engine increases it becomes desirable to supply the spark to the distributor rotor at a time more advanced in the cycle. This is because despite the increased number of cylinder firings the gas which is being ignited takes the same amount of time to burn. As a result, maximum engine efficiency dictates that the pulse be supplied to the spark plugs proportionately sooner as the speed increases.

The prior art recognizing this problem taught a number of techniques for solving it. One such technique includes adjusting the advance of the pulses supplied to the spark plugs as a function of the carburetor. A further technique taught by the prior art for effecting control of the pulses supplied to the ignition spark plugs included subjecting a diaphragm to the negative pressure of the intake manifold. Movement of the diaphragm resulted in the movement of an arm which controlled the position of a contact breaker.

The above described prior art techniques of controlling timing in an internal combustion engine were generally complex to operate and susceptible to frequent breakdowns. Since the proper advancement of the spark insures good mileage, reduced amounts of undesirable emission products and proper operation of the combustion engine it can readily be appreciated that proper advancement is of the utmost importance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved spark advance means for an internal combustion engine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide spark advance means for an internal combustible engine which is reliable in operation and which will advance the timing proportionately for increased speeds of the internal combustion engme.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved spark advance means for an internal combustion engine which is reliable in operation and has a long service life.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spark advance means for an internal combustion engine which is capable of achieving the above and other objects and which is economical to make.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention the foregoing and other objects are achieved by rotating a disc having plurality of permanent magnets thereon in unison with the distributor shaft. The permanent magnets which are located on the disc are adjacent the periphery thereof and are symmetrically positioned thereabout. A second disc is adjacent a side of the first disc, and does not rotate with the distributor shaft and includes a plurality of electromagnets symmetrically spaced about its periphery. A biasing means such as a spring is secured to the second disc and to a fixed datum. A lever is pivotably attached to fixed datum and includes two ends. A link extends from the second disc to one end of said lever and is positively connected thereto. A breaker point plate surrounds the distributor shaft but does not rotate therewith. A link is attached to the breaker point plate and is positively connected to the second end of the lever.

In normal operation the distributor shaft for a four cycle internal combustion engine rotates at one half the rotational speed of the engine drive shaft. The first disc rotates with the distributor shaft in the same direction as the shaft and rotation of the first disc and the permanent magnets thereon causes a voltage to be induced in the electro magnets of the second disc. The faster the first disc rotates the greater the voltage induced in the electro magnets of the second disc and the greater the attractive force between the discs. When the speed of the distributor increases to a point such that the attractive force between the first and second disc is great enough to overcome the biasing means of the second disc the second disc rotates in the direction that the distributor shaft is rotating. This causes the lever to pivot about its pivot point and the top end thereof to move in the opposite direction as that of the bottom end. Consequently the breaker point plate is moved in the opposite direction as the direction of rotation of the distributor shaft thus advancing the timing. Increases in distributor shaft speed will proportionately increase the timing advance while decreases of speed will proportionately decrease the advancement of the timing.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to the reader in the following description.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the device hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Figures:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially broken front plan view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 of the drawings an embodiment 10 of the present invention is shown and includes a housing 12. Housing 12 includes a base section 12a and an upper section 12b. Extending through housing 12 is distributor drive shaft 14. If the embodiment of the present invention 10 is to be used in a four cycle engine which is the normal type of engine for most internal combustion engines distributor shaft 14 will rotate one-half as fast as the engine drive shaft. Of course, if the engine in which the present invention is used is a two cycle engine such as is used in some foreign automobiles distributor shaft 14 will rotate at the same speed as the engine drive shaft. Any conventional means may be utilized for connecting the distributor shaft to the engine drive means as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Rotatable with distributor shaft 14 is a disc 16 which is circular in cross-section and received within the upper section of housing 12. Disc 16 includes a plurality of permanent magnets located symmetrically about its periphery which extend between the opposite surfaces of the disc. Preferably, the magnets are wedged shaped with the outer periphery of the wedge adjacent the periphery of the disc. While any number of magnets can be used with the present invention excellent results can be obtained if six magnets are used. The magnets may be ceramic magnets or any other conventional type of magnet.

Positioned adjacent the lower surface of disc 16 is a second disc 18. Disc 18 surrounds shaft 14 and is symmetrical in respect thereto. However, disc 18 does not rotate with shaft 14 and a biasing means such as a spring 20 is attached to disc 18 and housing 12. Spring 20 prevents disc 18 from freely rotating and urges the disc into a reference position. Located on disc 18 are a plurality of electro-magnets spaced about the periphery thereof and which may be conventional. Preferably, the magnets are all symmetrically positioned with respect to the center of the disc. Extending from the periphery of one portion of disc 18 is a pin 22 which extends through an opening 12c on housing 12. Opening 12c extends for a small portion of the periphery of section 12b of housing 12.

A lever 24 is secured to the upper section of housing 12 at a pivot point 26. The means for providing pivot point 26 may be conventional and may merely consist of a pin extending from the housing with the lever free to rotate thereabout. The bottom end of lever 24 includes a fork and pin 22 is received between the arms of the fork.

Secured to the upper portion of housing 12 is a plate 28 which includes an annular opening at its center portion with shaft 14 passing therethrough. Plate 28 has depending flanges at its periphery with said flanges attached to the inside surfaces of the upper section of housing 12. Located on the top of plate 28 is a bearing plate 30 which may be conventional. The bearing plate includes a large annular opening through which shaft 14 passes and which serves a purpose that will soon be apparent. A breaker plate 32 is positioned within the upper section of housing 12 and includes a flange depending from the central portion thereof which is adjacent the inside peripheries of plate 28 and bearing plate 30. The bottom portion of breaker plate 32 is in contact with bearing plate 30 and can rotate relative thereto. A spring 34 is secured to plate 30 and breaker plate 32. The spring is a tension spring and biases the breaker plate to a reference position as will hereinafter be apparent.

Secured to breaker plate 32 is a breaker point assembly 36. Breaker point assembly 36 includes a post 38 which is secured to the breaker plate. A sleeve 40 surrounds post 38 and a spring 42 biases sleeve 40 in a clockwise direction. Moveable with sleeve 40 is a contact arm 42 having a contact point 44 at one end thereof. Secured to the mid-point of contact arm 42 is a cam 44 and fixed relative to breaker plate 32 is a contact point 46. An octagonal nut 48 is fixed to shaft 14 and rotatable therewith. Nut 48 includes eight edges since the invention presently described is intended to be used with an eight cylinder engine. If the invention were intended to be used with a six cylinder engine then the nut would include six edges. Contact points 44 and 46 lead to a distributor which can be mounted on top of the embodiment of the present invention.

In normal operation, shaft 14 will be rotating at one-half the engine speed for a four cycle engine and at the engine speed for a two cycle engine. Rotation of shaft 14 results in rotation of disc 16. As the rate of rotation of disc 16 increases a current is induced with magnets in disc 18 and the magnetic attraction between the magnets in disc 16 and the electro-magnets on disc 18 increases. Eventually a point is reached where this magnetic attraction is greater than the force of spring 20 on disc 18 which resists rotation of said disc. Thus disc 18 rotates slightly with the amount of rotation proportional to the attraction between the magnets in disc 16 and disc 18 which is thus proportional to the speed of rotation disc 16 and of the distributor shaft 14 since the greater the speed of rotation of disc 16 the greater the magnetic attraction between the magnets on the disc and the magnets on disc 18. Rotation of disc 18 results in pin 22 rotating and with the disc rotating in a clockwise direction looking down on the disc the lever has its bottom end rotated in a clockwise direction. Consequently, the top end of the lever is rotated in a counterclockwise direction rotating breaker point plate 32 in a counterclockwise direction against the bias of spring 34. Rotation of the breaker point in a counterclockwise direction results in breaker point assembly rotating relative to nut 48. Each time an edge of the nut passes in contact with follower 44 arm 42 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2 breaking contact between contact points 44 and 46. By moving arm 44 relative to nut 48 as just described the timing is advanced. Decreases in the speed of rotation of shaft 14 results in the magnetic attraction between magnets in disc 16 and in disc 18 decreasing with the result that the amount of rotation of disc 18 will decrease. Consequently, breaker plate 32 and the breaker arrangement will not be rotated as much as it will when the engine is being rotated at a high speed and the advancement will not be as great as previously described. Contact points 44 and 46 lead to the engine spark plugs.

It can thus be seen that precise means is provided for controlling the timing in internal combustion en ine which is reliable in operation and has a long service 1' e. If desired,'the means can be made from non-ferrous materials and the use of the present invention will insure excellent mileage, prolong engine life while being of a relatively modest cost.

As can be seen in FIG. 6 the upper end of lever 24 rests against a-plate 52 which is affixed to the upper most part of section 12b as will heretoafter be described. Plate 52 is generally rectangular and includes an internal slot 520. A screw or other suitable fastening means 54 extends through said slot and is secured to section 12b. Screw 54 can be loosened so that plate 52 can be moved relative to section 12b. When the screw is tightened the head isin contact with plate 52 to prevent the plate from moving. The position of plate 52 can be varied as desired to adjuct the position to lever 24 and hence the timing of an internal combustion engine independently of the speed of rotation of distributor shaft 14.

Any conventional bearing means can be utilized for allowing disc 18 to rotate in housing 12 independently of the rotation of shaft 14 and about an axis coincidental with the axis of rotation of shaft 14.

I claim:

1. A spark advance device for an internal combustion engine comprising first means defined by a first disc, a second disc adapted to rotate with the distributor shaft of an internal combustion engine, and magnetic means on said first and second disc whereby the rotation of said second disc will induce a current in said first disc moving said first disc proportionately to the rotational speed of the distributor shaft, a switch that is used to produce a timed pulse for an internal combustion engine, second means for closing the switch, third means for varying the time, depending on the movement of the first means, when said second means operates and fourth means for controlling the operation of said third means in accordance with the movement of said first means.

2. A spark advance device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic means includes a plurality of magnets located on said first disc and said second disc and means for resisting rotation of said first disc whereby the rotation of said second disc will induce a current in the magnets of said first disc proportionately to the speed of rotation of said first disc and urge said first disc to rotate a distance proportionate to the speed of rotation of said second disc.

3. A spark advance device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, said third means includes a member free to rotate relative to the distributor shaft, said switch located on said member, and said second means including a switch closing means rotatable with the distributor shaft.

4. A spark advance device according to claim 3, wherein said member is a breaker point plate, said fourth means including a lever rotatably secured to a fixed datum and having two ends, one end of said lever secured to said first disc and the other end of said lever secured to said breaker point plate.

5. A spark advance device according to claim 4, wherein biasing means are provided for resisting movement of said breaker plate.

6. A spark advance device according to claim 4, further including a housing, with the distributor shaft passing through said housing, said first disc, second disc and breaker point plate located in such housing with said lever external of said housing.

7. A spark advance device according to claim 4, wherein means is provided for rotating said lever independently of the speed of rotation of the distributor shaft. 

1. A spark advance device for an internal combustion engine comprising first means defined by a first disc, a second disc adapted to rotate with the distributor shaft of an internal combustion engine, and magnetic means on said first and second disc whereby the rotation of said second disc will induce a current in said first disc moving said first disc proportionateLy to the rotational speed of the distributor shaft, a switch that is used to produce a timed pulse for an internal combustion engine, second means for closing the switch, third means for varying the time, depending on the movement of the first means, when said second means operates and fourth means for controlling the operation of said third means in accordance with the movement of said first means.
 2. A spark advance device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1 wherein said magnetic means includes a plurality of magnets located on said first disc and said second disc and means for resisting rotation of said first disc whereby the rotation of said second disc will induce a current in the magnets of said first disc proportionately to the speed of rotation of said first disc and urge said first disc to rotate a distance proportionate to the speed of rotation of said second disc.
 3. A spark advance device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, said third means includes a member free to rotate relative to the distributor shaft, said switch located on said member, and said second means including a switch closing means rotatable with the distributor shaft.
 4. A spark advance device according to claim 3, wherein said member is a breaker point plate, said fourth means including a lever rotatably secured to a fixed datum and having two ends, one end of said lever secured to said first disc and the other end of said lever secured to said breaker point plate.
 5. A spark advance device according to claim 4, wherein biasing means are provided for resisting movement of said breaker plate.
 6. A spark advance device according to claim 4, further including a housing, with the distributor shaft passing through said housing, said first disc, second disc and breaker point plate located in such housing with said lever external of said housing.
 7. A spark advance device according to claim 4, wherein means is provided for rotating said lever independently of the speed of rotation of the distributor shaft. 